Festa do Imigrante

There couldn't be a more apt place to celebrate São Paulo's immigrant cultures than at the Museu da Imigração (Museum of Immigration), in Mooca, opened in 1887 as the first shelter in São Paulo for the boatloads of immigrants, from over 70 different countries and ethnicities, that arrived by boat into the port of Santos over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries.

At this annual festival a small slice of culture from each of São Paulo's myriad immigrant communities comes together, in the selling of arts and crafts, the regional and national dances and music and performances and – best of all – the traditional dishes.

Wander around 30 or so barracas (stalls) scoping out the most appetizing-looking dishes, then spend the next few hours slowly grazing your way to the perfect, customised lunch. The ususal São Paulo suspects are there, such as Lebanese, Japanese and Italian cuisines, all ubiquitous in the city's restaurant scene.

The more obscure highlights, however, include traditional dishes from Russia, Lithuania, Israel and Congo. Look out for the tasty tostadas at the Mexican stand, manned by the team from Obá restaurant.